Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi on Wednesday passed away following a cardiac arrest. He was 82.
The 69th pontiff was rushed to a private hospital after he complained of uneasiness, hospital sources said.
PM Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami, DMK Working President MK Stalin, PMK founder S Ramadoss and others condoled the demise of the Shankaracharya.
"Jagadguru Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya was at the forefront of innumerable community service initiatives. He nurtured institutions which transformed the lives of the poor and downtrodden", PM Narendra Modi tweeted.
The rites of the seer, described as 'Brindavana Pravesha Karyakramam' in vedic parlance, will commence from Thursday, according to the mutt.
"Brindavana Pravesha Karyakramam of HH Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal will be performed on Thursday from 8 am," the mutt's official Twitter handle said.
The seer's body has been kept at the Kamakoti peetam here for the public to pay final respects. Many of the devotees who visited the mutt were in tears and described him as a 'jagathguru.'
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